Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz on Wednesday opened the first Air Force Global Strike Command commander’s conference, a three-day event at Barksdale AFB, La., home to the new major command that oversees the nation’s ICBMs and nuclear-capable bombers. “This is a tough business, with a margin of error near zero,” he told the participants via a video teleconference link. Schwartz said the Air Force senior leaders’ commitment to nuclear deterrence and global strike is “not a flash in the pan,” but rather will endure. Schwartz said the Air Force’s rigorous inspections of its nuclear units are “not to give people a hard time or to make life difficult, but to maintain standards.” Those standards are kept very high to maintain mission excellence. The conference features speakers on the heritage, professional development, and issues facing the bomber and missile wings. (Barksdale release)
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
